Maryland recruiting: Terps make cut for number of prospects

Pat Lammer

Maryland's D.J. Durkin, in his first year with the Terps, was among the numerous college coaches on hand as Michigan's Jim Harbaugh led Elite Prep Sports' Friday Night Lights prep football camp at University School in Davie on Friday. Durkin was Michigan's defensive coordinator last season and also worked under Harbaugh at Stanford.

Maryland's D.J. Durkin, in his first year with the Terps, was among the numerous college coaches on hand as Michigan's Jim Harbaugh led Elite Prep Sports' Friday Night Lights prep football camp at University School in Davie on Friday. Durkin was Michigan's defensive coordinator last season and also worked under Harbaugh at Stanford. (Pat Lammer)

The recruiting season never takes a break on both sides. So while coach DJ Durkin and his staff are canvassing the East Coast and beyond to look for new prospects, recruits are working on paring down their lists to find the fit that's best for them.

Over the past week or so, a number of recruits in the Class of 2017 have released top schools lists that feature Maryland. Of course, these lists could mean something, or they could mean nothing -- five-star defensive end Joshua Kaindoh left Maryland off his top four in April before ultimately committing to the Terps. But here's a quick roundup of where Maryland stands on some prospects' lists.

Three-star cornerback Randall Haynie of Cardinal Gibbons (Fla.) released his top 10 on Thursday. It also features Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Rutgers and West Virginia. He added he's also favoring Indiana and Central Florida, so it's a bit more of a top 12. Haynie is the No. 111 cornerback nationally, per 247sports.com, and he attends the same school that produced defensive back signees Elijah and Elisha Daniels in the Class of 2016.

Maryland earned a spot in the top 10 of three-star wide receiver Michael Harley of St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) on Wednesday. Big Ten Conference foes Michigan and Wisconsin are also in the mix, along with West Virginia, Louisville and Miami. He's the No. 66 wide receiver nationally and No. 473 overall prospect, per 247sports.com.

In the top 8 for four-star offensive lineman T.J. Moore of Mallard Creek (N.C.) are Maryland as well as former Atlantic Coast Conference foes N.C. State, Syracuse, North Carolina and Virginia Tech, plus some Southeastern Conference teams. Moore is the No. 29 offensive tackle and No. 6 player in North Carolina, per 247sports.com.

Last weekend, four-star wide receiver Tahj Capehart of Bishop Sullivan (Va.) unveiled his top 10 list in alphabetical order. Along with Maryland, conference foes Nebraska and Penn State made the cut, plus Alabama, Georgia, West Virginia and Virginia Tech. In the 247sports.com composite rankings, Capehart is the No. 279 overall prospect, No. 36 wide receiver and No. 13 player in Virginia.

On June 9, Paramus Catholic (N.J.) defensive tackle Corey Bolds put Maryland in a top 12 that featured Alabama, Michigan, Rutgers, Penn State, Michigan State, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Georgia, Tennessee and California. 247sports.com ranks him as a four-star prospect and the No. 6 player in New Jersey, but in the composite rankings, he's a three-star, the No. 8 player in the Garden State and No. 31 defensive tackle overall. Paramus Catholic produced the nation's No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2016 in defensive tackle Rashan Gary, and he signed with Michigan.

Maryland didn't make the top 10 for four-star Cocoa (Fla.) athlete Bruce Judson on June 1, but he wrote he was "Also considering really Strong" the Terps, along with Kentucky. His list is an assortment of bluebloods, including Alabama, Florida, Auburn and Virginia Tech.

"This is really my first time getting out here in front of all these [coaches]," Morgan told The Sun at the camp. "So this is a great experience for me for all these coaches to see my talents before the season starts."